Unofficial GRE Score Report

[marco_math]

Hello: 

Some schools ask for us to upload the unofficial GRE score report. The problem is that said score report contains all other scores and also score recipients. I actually decided to blur out all the score recipients because I didn't really think disclosing the other schools I was going to apply to was something I wanted. I also blurred out my October Subject score and left only my November one. At first I thought leaving only the relevant information on my score report was a good idea but now Im not so sure. What do you guys think? Was this a bad move  ?

[Nausicaa]

Don't they usually only look at your most recent score anyway?

[Usmivka]

The schools requested this for precisely the info you removed. They want to know who they are competing against for students, and how many times you have previously taken the GRE and how well you did. For the former, they will probably ask you to specifically list other schools you applied to on their application anyway, so no biggy. The schools you send your score to may have nothing to do with where you apply, especially if there is a long gap between testing and applications.

 

But they want to know what you've done previously for the GRE specifically because ETS just changed their reporting rules and is allowing test-takers to not send all their scores. This allows students to hide bad scores, lack of progress between tests, or repeated testing to improve their apparent test taking ability. The schools like all that info though, because it tells them a lot more about your potential as a student than just your GRE score, which can depend on all sorts of factors and is on its own not a great indicator of graduate success. ETS changed the rules so they could get more money from repeat testers that previously would have been dissuaded by the negative reception they received by admissions committees, and the schools are responding by asking you to provide that info anyway. By deleting it, you look like you are hiding something and preventing them from having useful information on your  potential as a student...by witholding this info, you can only hurt your appeal as a prospective. The GREs aren't that big a factor for most admissions compared to your prior work, CV, letters of rec, statement of purpose, so it is easier to ask forgiveness for poor scores than to hide them.

 

EDIT: I don't think most schools want this second category of info (prior test scores), I've only heard of some math and physics programs doing this. Certainly no program in the humanities or most sciences would care.

Edited January 7, 2013 by Usmivka

[marco_math]

 One school has already let me change the document. I have sent mails to the other three schools and hope that they will let me change it. 

The blurred score was not even that low, and my intention was never to hide this information it was just that since ETS (because of score select) was only going to send the highest score I figured that I would only show the relevant score date on the score report. I actually would have no problem in disclosing the lower score because its not even low, it was just not the highest. I hope the other three schools I uploaded this wrong document would let me change it or at least acknowledge the fact that the uploaded document was an honest mistake. Would this mistake be too severe?

[Usmivka]

You contacted them and acted in good faith. Can't do any more than that. If they cared in the first place, they'll let you change it, and if they don't they probably didn't care at all! I think if programs ask for these sorts of things they should explain why in the first place to avoid issues like this.

Edited January 8, 2013 by Usmivka

[marco_math]

True that! Im hoping for the best. Thanks for your answer.

By the way has anyone had a similar experience? How did it turn out?